The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

The Galaxy and the Ground Within is the fourth and final book in the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, released in February 2021.

Plot Summary
With no water, no air, and no native life, the planet Gora is unremarkable. The only thing it has going for it is a chance proximity to more popular worlds, making it a decent stopover for ships traveling between the wormholes that keep the Galactic Commons connected. If deep space is a highway, Gora is just your average truck stop.

At the Five-Hop One-Stop, long-haul spacers can stretch their legs (if they have legs, that is), and get fuel, transit permits, and assorted supplies. The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her sometimes helpful child, who work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through.

When a freak technological failure halts all traffic to and from Gora, three strangers—all different species with different aims—are thrown together at the Five-Hop. Grounded, with nothing to do but wait, the trio—an exiled artist with an appointment to keep, a cargo runner at a personal crossroads, and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes—are compelled to confront where they’ve been, where they might go, and what they are, or could be, to each other.

Main Characters

 * Pei – An Aeluon cargo runner and secret lover of Ashby, on her way to the Wayfarer.
 * Speaker – An Akarak who is accutely aware of her species' difficult history, having a hard time socializing.
 * Roveg – An exiled Quelin artist, on his way to see his children for the first time in many years.
 * Ouloo – The Laru owner of the Five-Hop One-Stop, the main setting of the story.
 * Tupo – Ouloo's child.

Other Characters

 * Tracker – Speaker's twin, staying in their ship in orbit during the events of the novel.